Equipment holder for use on scaffolding

ABSTRACT

An equipment holder includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end. Pipe clamps are positioned at both the first end and the second end of the body., which are adapted to securely clamp the body to pipe scaffolding. A receptacle is positioned at the second end of the body, which is adapted to receive a lower portion of equipment such as a fire extinguisher or rod oven. An upper portion of the equipment is secured to the body. A lifting line attachment is provided at the first end of the body, whereby the body can be hauled up scaffolding at an end of a lifting line.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an equipment holder which is adapted for use on scaffolding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Frequently, a fire extinguisher is laid across scaffolding planks, when workers are working from scaffolding. This is not a safe practice. Workers can trip and fall over the fire extinguisher. The fire extinguisher can be knocked off the scaffolding and fall to the ground. The fire extinguisher can go off prematurely when bumped. The fire extinguisher can become buried under a pile of materials and equipment and, therefore, not be readily accessible when needed. While there have been numerous fire extinguisher holders developed, none appear to be particularly suited for use on scaffolding.

Rod ovens are used to heat welding rods. When welding from scaffolding space is limited and there is always a danger that the rod oven will be knocked over, sending hot welding rods off the side of the scaffolding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an equipment holder, which includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end. Pipe clamps are positioned at both the first end and the second end of the body, which are adapted to securely clamp the body to pipe scaffolding. A receptacle is positioned at the second end of the body, which is adapted to receive a lower portion of equipment, such as a fire extinguisher or rod oven.

Means are positioned toward the first end of the body, for securing an upper portion of the equipment to the body. A lifting line attachment is provided at the first end of the body, whereby the body can be hauled up scaffolding at an end of a lifting line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiment or embodiments shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the equipment holder constructed in a accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the equipment holder depicted in FIG. 1 with an alternative securing means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment, an equipment holder generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 and 2.

Structure and Relationship of Parts:

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown equipment holder 10, which includes an elongated, preferably arcuate, body 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16. Pipe clamps 18 are positioned at both first end 14 and second end 16 of body 12. Pipe clamps 18 are adapted to securely clamp body 12 to pipe scaffolding 20. A receptacle 22 is positioned at second end 16 of body 12, where receptacle 22 is adapted to receive the lower portion 24 of a fire extinguisher 26. Although fire extinguisher 26 has been selected for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that equipment holder 10 will work equally as well with other equipment, such as a rod oven. A clamping strap 28 is mounted toward first end 14 of body 12 for securing the upper portion 29 of fire extinguisher 26 to body 12. Referring to FIG. 2, an alternative means of securing upper portion 29 is a pin coupling 30 mounted on body 12. It will be understood that pin coupling 30 may be in various positions, however, as depicted pin 30 may also act as the safety pin that prevents fire extinguisher 26 from being used accidentally. A lifting line attachment 32 is located at first end 14 of body 12, whereby body 12, preferably with ire extinguisher 26 in place, can be hauled up scaffolding 20 at the end of a lifting line (not shown).

A foam liner 34 may be provided for body 12 to suit different sizes of fire extinguishers 26 and different types of equipment. In this situation, body 12 would be sized for the largest fire extinguisher reasonably expected, and foam liners 34 may be included or provided separately such that body 12 accommodates fire extinguisher 26 snugly regardless of the brand or size.

Operation:

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, equipment holder 10 is provided as describe above. Fire extinguisher 26 is installed in holder 10 as follows: lower portion 24 of fire extinguisher 26 is placed in and received by receptacle 22 at second end 16 of body 10. Extinguisher is then placed in an upright position with respect to holder 10. If extinguisher is loose in receptacle 22, a foam liner 34 may be inserted. Extinguisher is then secured to holder 10 using strap 28 as shown in FIG. 1 or pin coupling 30 as shown in FIG. 2.

Holder 10 is installed on scaffolding 20 as follows: A lifting line (not shown) is attached to lifting line attachment 32, and holder 10 is raised to the desired level. Body 12 is then attached to scaffolding 20 by pipe clamps 18 that extend around scaffolding 20. Fire extinguisher 26 may be installed in holder 10 before or after body 12 is attached to scaffolding 20, and before or after it has been raised to the desired height.

In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the Claims. 

1. An equipment holder, comprising: an elongated body having a first end and a second end; pipe clamps positioned at both the first end and the second end of the body, the pipe clamps being adapted to securely clamp the body to pipe scaffolding; means, positioned at the second end of the body, for securing a lower portion of a piece of equipment to the body; means, positioned toward the first end of the body, for securing an upper portion of the piece of equipment to the body; and a lifting line attachment at the first end of the body, whereby the body can be hauled up scaffolding at an end of a lifting line.
 2. The equipment holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for securing a lower portion of the piece of equipment is a receptacle positioned at the second end of the body, the receptacle being adapted to receive a lower portion of a piece of equipment.
 3. The equipment holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for securing an upper portion of the fire extinguisher is a clamping strap mounted on the body.
 4. The equipment holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for securing an upper portion of the fire extinguisher is a pin coupling mounted on the body.
 5. The equipment holder as defined in claim 1, wherein the body is arcuate.
 6. The equipment holder as defined in claim 2, wherein the receptacle of the body has a foam liner.
 7. An equipment holder, comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, the body being arcuate in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis; pipe clamps positioned at both the first end and the second end of the body, the pipe clamps being adapted to securely clamp the body to pipe scaffolding; a receptacle positioned at the second end of the body, the receptacle being adapted to receive a lower portion of a piece of equipment, the receptacle having a foam liner; a clamping strap positioned toward the first end of the body for securing an upper portion of the piece of equipment to the body; and a lifting line attachment at the first end of the body, whereby the body can be hauled up scaffolding at an end of a lifting line. 